In a shocking find from the Center for Science and the Environment, all major brands of honey, including Dabur, Zandu, Baidyanath, Patanjali, and Himalaya, were found to be adulterated with Chinese sugar syrup. Only three brands, namely Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar, have passed the test.
An in-depth study by the CSE, published by the popular magazine Down To Earth, showed how big brands had been enriching their honey with a high volume of sugar syrup, thus putting people’s lives at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. 19.
The CSE had sent samples of honey from brands like Dabur, Patanjali, Zandu, Baidyanath, Apis Himalaya, and Ramdev Baba’s Hitkari to a German laboratory. Except for three brands, all samples failed the test.
Environmentalist Sunita Narain, who heads the CSE, took to Twitter to share her findings. He said CSE had “adulterated samples of pure honey” with Chinese and Indian syrups “all pass” at 25%, 50% and 75%. To his horror, the samples with 25% and 50% adulteration passed the test in India. The CSE said: “We confirm that there are sugar syrups that may bypass the 2020 FSSAI for honey.”
(7) When adulterated honey passes pic.twitter.com/V1wwHdyCUW
– Sunita Narain (@sunitanar) December 2, 2020
Patanjali received criticism from netizens when they reacted with ‘I told you so’ lines.
I have never bought a Patanjali product, I will never buy it.
– Dushyant (@atti_cus) December 3, 2020
Ramdev adds Chinese sugar syrup to Patanjali honey
Jay Shah receives Chinese sponsorship for IPL
Arnab takes ads from Chinese companies for Republic TV
Modi takes loans from banks controlled by China
They are ‘nationalists’. But you are anti-national if you use CamScanner app 🙄
– Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) December 3, 2020
After the reports of adulteration on Patanjali Honey, the Bhakts who have been consuming Patanjali Gaumutra are concerned.
– PuNsTeR ™ (@Pun_Starr) December 3, 2020
So Mr. Patanjali was not only selling adulterated honey, horror of horrors, but he was selling anti-national adulterated honey with Chinese fructose. At least he could have adulterated using Indian fructose syrup. Kadi Ninda. 😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑#Just say #Honey
– Prosenjit Datta (@ProsaicView) December 3, 2020
Reacting to the findings, Patanjali said “it appears to be a plot to smear the Indian natural honey industry.” The Calcutta-based Emami group, owner of the Zandu brand, reiterated that it adhered to all the protocols established by the FSSAI. However, it did not explain why honey samples with up to 50% adulteration had passed the FSSAI test but did not pass it in Germany. Dabur also emphasized that he was feeling pure honey.
